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PHYSIATRY TREATMENTS

ONS offers a variety of therapeutic injections to treat inflammatory conditions in the spine and joints, including:

Cortisone Injections

Cortisone is a powerful steroidal medication used to treat inflammation and pain. It is a close derivative of the cortisone that is naturally produced by the body. Cortisone is usually injected in combination with a local anesthetic such as Lidocaine to provide temporary relief to the affected area. It is sometimes prescribed to relieve inflammation so that the patient is comfortable enough to do physical therapy. Most physicians limit the number of injections they offer to a patient to prevent potential ill effects.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment is becoming a more popular option for giving a biological boost to the healing process. PRP treatment has received significant attention from the media and has been used by members of the New York Football Giants, other NFL players and elite athletes. > read more

Recent advances in sports medicine include the use of ultrasound to guide injections such as cortison, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), and viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid). Better visualization may also improve the safety of some injections by helping doctors avoid sensitive areas such as nerves and blood vessels, that should not be touched by the needle. > read more

Viscosupplementation

When patients with osteoarthritis of the knee cannot get relief from pain using anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or NSAIDs, physical therapy or other conservative measures, viscosupplementation may be recommended. Viscosupplementation is a relatively new procedure where the doctor injects a preparation of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the synovial (joint) fluid. It acts as a lubricant and enables the bones in the knee to move smoothly over each other and help absorb shock. People with osteoarthritis of the knee have less concentrated hyaluronic acid in their joints. Viscosupplementation replaces some of the natural supply that’s been lost. When injected directly into the cavity around the joint, hyaluronic acid has been effective at relieving pain in many patients for six months or more. The injections may also stimulate the body to produce more of its own hyaluronic acid.

Interventional Physiatry/Steroid Injections

Interventional physiatry is a branch of physiatry that treats pain using precisely placed anti-inflammatory injections into the spine and pelvis guided by a specially equipped x-ray.